South Korea July 2016: Kia teases Hyundai for market lead, Volkswagen implodes (-86%)

The Kia Carnival ranks third overall in South Korea in July. 

* Now updated with the Top 30 All-brands, Top 55 local models and Top 140 foreigners *

New car sales of domestic models in South Korea are down 12% year-on-year in July to 136.814 units, but the year-to-date total is still up 6% to 1.066.069. Local makes are down 11% but foreigners freefall 24% to 11.5% share vs. 12.4% so far this year. Market leader Hyundai take a 20% hit to lower its share to 35%, that’s only 2.8 points above sister brand Kia down a more measured 9% to 32.2%. One year ago Hyundai had a 8.7 points advantage on Kia. GM Korea is up a splendid 16% to 10.5% share, with Ssangyong down 8% to 5.5% and Renault Samsung up 10% to 5.4%. Mercedes reclaims the foreign crown thanks to sales up 5% to 4.184, a long shot above BMW at 2.638 (-33%) and Audi at 1.504 (-43%). Land Rover (+31%), Volvo (+44%) and Jaguar (+96%) for their part post spectacular gains.

Volkswagen sales are down 86% year-on-year in South Korea in July…

On the other hand, Volkswagen is hit full frontal by its lineup-wide stop sale order at a devastating -86% to just 425 units. And the brand will fall to almost zero sales in the coming month, with South Korea suspending sales of 80 Volkswagen models as part of a widening investigation into the company’s emissions cheating scandal. The environment ministry said “As of August 2 we have revoked the certification of 83,000 vehicles of 80 models,” as the problem vehicles had fabricated documents for emissions and noise-level tests.

…while Ford Explorer sales are up 99%. 

Model-wise, the Hyundai Porter is back to the #1 spot it holds year-to-date despite sales down 13% year-on-year to 8.276, distancing the Hyundai Sonata (-18%) at 6.858 while the Kia Carnival jumps 8 spots on June to land on the third step of the podium in spite of deliveries down 5% year-onyear to 6.773. The Chevrolet Spark is up 91% to #6, the Kia K7 up 168% to #9, the Chevrolet Malibu up 172% to #11 and Hyundai Genesis up 49% to #12. The Samsung SM6 aka Renault Talisman, the instant blockbuster of the First Half of the year, is down to #13 in July. The Mercedes E-Class is back up 20 spots to resume its foreign model domination despite sales down 28% year-on-year to 1.215. It distances the BMW 5 Series (-31%), Mercedes C Class (+118%), Audi A6 (-42%) and Mercedes S-Class (-52%). The Ford Explorer (+99%), Mercedes CLS (+126%), GLA (+146%) and Toyota Prius (+81%) impress.

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Previous month: South Korea June 2016: Hyundai Avante up 76%, Kia Niro in Top 20

One year ago: South Korea July 2015: Facelifted Hyundai Santa Fe triumphs

Full July 2016 Top 30 All-brands, Top 55 local models and Top 140 foreigners below.